I was just wondering if there was anyone from Edmonton on here. I am 12 day post op and just looking for anyone who wants to pssibly start a weekly support meeting.

Yay Edmonton. I'm getting banded at the end of december. Where are you getting your fills??

It's so good to hear from another Edmontontian!!! I am getting my surgery @TLBC in Toronto on the 20th. I was assured by them that they do have a fill Dr. in Edmonton but I don't know what their name is, i'll let you know when I find out. Where arer you getting your surgery?

Mexico, by Dr. Ortiz... my mom is freaking out about it :S

I am new here...so hello everyone!!.....lol.........anyway I have a question....why is everyone leaving alberta to have the band done elsewhere? Is the wait list that long? *tear*...I have referral in from my doctor to a Dr. Ferries in Red Deer. Guess that was two questions....

Hi Jenn,

I recently got my surgery in Toronto. I did that because I could get my band in a few weeks after I contacted them. Alberta wasn't a good choice for me because of the wait list in Edmonton. I heard that it can be between 1.5-3yrs. and I work in Northern Alberta and I wouldn't be able to make all the appt's thay want you to have before you get your surgery. It cost me $16,000 (not including airfare) to do it in Toronto, but I needed the band and in 1.5-3 years who knows how big I could have been. I was gaining a little weight every year. I hope this helps. Red Deer might be a little different.

I am new here...so hello everyone!!.....lol.........anyway I have a question....why is everyone leaving alberta to have the band done elsewhere? Is the wait list that long? *tear*...I have referral in from my doctor to a Dr. Ferries in Red Deer. Guess that was two questions....

There are no private clinics in Alberta unlike TBLC etc in Toronto. The wait list is due to the limit on the number of procedures AHC will allow in the public system.

This should change soon. There is talk of a private clinic being set up in Calgary. That should allow more bands being performed without the travel hassles.

Hi Cujo,

I just recieved an E-mail today regarding the private clinic in Calgary...here it is....

Dear Leslie,

Thank you for your interest in the Surgical Weight Loss Centre. Unfortunately, due to current government policies regarding gastric banding, we are unable to proceed with opening a clinic in Alberta at this time. In the meantime, we are available to serve you in Ontario and we invite you to call us to arrange a telephone consultation with one of our three Lap-Band surgeons - Dr.'s Cobourn, Mumford and Padonou.

We can usually arrange for surgery to be booked within 4 - 6 weeks after the consultation. We recommend that our out-of-province patients fly to Ontario the day before surgery and stay for a couple of days afterwards. We are conveniently located in Mississauga just 20 minutes southwest of Toronto Pearson International Airport.

We are experienced with helping long distance patients, since our patients come from all across Canada. SWLC has performed over 1700 Lap-Band procedures and we also offer a Gastric Balloon program. So far, we have over 300 Lap-Band patients from Alberta. The cost of our comprehensive Lap-Band Program is $16,000 which includes the Lap-Band procedure and a long term support program provided by an experienced team of surgeons, nurses, dietitian, wellness coach and patient coordinators. For more information on our clinic and weight loss programs, please visit our website at www.swlc.ca.

In order to minimize your need to travel after your procedure, we have trained doctors and nurses in cities all across Canada to provide Lap-Band adjustments for our patients. In Alberta, we now have affiliates in Calgary, Edmonton (St. Albert), Grande Prairie (Sexsmith) and Fort McMurray.

In summary, the Surgical Weight Loss Centre welcomes you to contact our clinic in Ontario. We are Canada's leader in providing medical weight loss solutions that have been proven to help patients achieve sustained weight loss. Please call us at 1-888-278-7952 if you would like to speak with one of our patient coordinators or if you would like to book a free telephone consultation with one of our Ontario surgeons. We look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Dr. Phil Mitchell, Surgeon

Dr. Chris Cobourn, Medical Director & Surgeon

Surgical Weight Loss Centre

1413 Hurontario St.

Mississauga, Ontario L5G 3H5

905-278-8000

Toll Free 1-888-278-7952

Fax 905-275-1582

www.swlc.ca

Thats sad news for sure. Looks like the TO and Mx doc's will be seeing more Albertans for the forseeable future.

I'm sorry I had to give the bad news. :grouphug:

I recently got my surgery @ TLBC a.k.a Slimband. in Toronto. They aren't equipped to do fills in Edmonton yet. They told me that they were, but I found out from a fellow bandster from Edmonton that she had to fly to Toronto for her first 2 fills (i'm flying to TO on the 15th for my first fill). TLBC hasn't been that Alberta friendly for me. I was told that they just trained someone to do fills in Edmonton, but they are not ready yet and it is important to see the fill nurse in TO for a seminar. ( I was told that the morning of my surgery). Dr. Yau was great but the aftercare sucks, hopefully that will change. If I had to do it again i'd go to the Winnepeg clinic or the SWLC in Ontario. (cheaper flights to Winnepeg)

Anyone find a fill doctor in Edmonton yet? Found one that will do Canadian fills only. Went to Dr. K in Denver and will need first fill begining of January.

Medical Edge with Dr. Ortiz (Mexico, Tijiuana) has trained nurses in alberta... Not sure if they do fills for others though, something to look into!

Hi there

I am going to be banded on July 14,09. Would love to get together with others that have been banded. I think that is a great idea. I am from Stony Plain.

Great date to get it done Connie! Im scheduled for my band with Dr. Horacio Guajardo in Monterrey on July 14th as well. Only a couple more days eh! To bad our AHC is such a joke, couldnt wait 3yrs, so I decided to do the Mexico thing. Best of luck!

Hello everyone

I started exploring and researching lapband about a year ago. A year prior to that my doctor put in a referral to the Weight Wise program in Edmonton (Dr. Sharma) and a referral to Red Deer (Dr. Ferries). I had not heard anything back until July 09 of this year from Edmonton, stating I was accepted into the program. Critiera to doing the program is completing nine modules. After completing the first module I would have my first appointment with the doctor and his team to determine what is the best route for me. My appointment for that is in Nov 09. All I know is that at the end of it all...(I have total 150lbs I need to lose, I have 35 extra lbs just from last year) I am getting this procedure done! Whether I do it here or not. I am so tired of being heavy...

Anyway thanks for letting me vent or provide update...whichever that may be.....

I find that my biggest struggle right now is finding a support system who understands. I need a support system to help keep me on track. If there is a group who meets or stays in contact somehow I would love to know. I need support so bad.

Hi, I'm very close to Edmonton. I am about 110lbs overweight.

I'm booked for Feb 23rd with Dr.Corvala in Tijuana!!! I also was referred to the Alberta Weightwise program but no longer want to wait, or have to worry about convincing anyone there that I've tried everything on my own already and am just getting bigger.

I found out that if you have it done in a hospital outside of province/country, Alberta HealthCare will reimburse about $1,500 of the cost. Also, apparently as a medical expense, it may get some tax refund back too. This costs $16,000 in Canada for a selfpay. It will cost me $6,000 in Mexico. Flights are reasonable, and the Surgeon has excellent all inclusive package. They will pick mye up at the airport and escort me to my hotel in Mexico.

I've researched extremely well.

anyways, drop in to say hi!!! especially if you are close by!